1 alarming Chiefs stat is dooming playoff chances and fans will hate it

Adam Schultz

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1 alarming Chiefs stat is dooming playoff chances and fans will hate it image

For the past handful of years, we have become accustomed to the Kansas City Chiefs being a buttoned-up team on both sides of the ball, and more importantly, coming through in the clutch in the fourth quarter.

But this year, the Chiefs, after being bulletproof in one-score games (12-0), are now 1-6, and against the Dallas Cowboys, it was self-inflicted wounds that plagued the Chiefs in the 31-28 loss.

One thing being pointed out is the drops down the stretch, with Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce seeing big chances go through their hands.

But for head coach Andy Reid, he's not worried about the drops; it's the costly penalties he wants cleaned up.

"We've got to take care of the penalty part of it," Reid said. "Get that taken care of, these things are happening at crucial times, and it takes you out of a flow, you're first-and-15, first-and-20, it takes you out of your run game stuff, or whatever you have going at that time that's sending you forwards, now you're going backwards."

More: Chiefs fans will love Andy Reid's comments on playoff chances at 6-6

Penalties becoming a huge problem for Chiefs

The Chiefs currently rank 10th in penalties with 86 on the year, but here is where things go south when looking at the past five weeks.

Of the Chiefs' 86 total penalties, a whopping 39 have come in those last five weeks.

With nine, three, 10, seven, and 10 penalties, the Chiefs are 2-3 in those games.

Reid knows those penalty issues are hindering his team, and it is the most critical thing the team has to get a handle on, because, given their current state, Kansas City can't afford to consistently be behind the sticks.

As things stand, the Chiefs are set to have their most penalties in a season since 2021.

In 2024, the Chiefs totaled 94 penalties; in 2023, 96; and in 2022, 87. In 2021, they committed 111 penalties.

So, it is a big problem, and one Reid knows has to get fixed. And fast.

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News Correspondent